To keep Felixstowe Dockers informed as to what is going on around us all. Photo credit Stuart Boyle

Friday, 20 January 2017

One dead and another in hospital after ‘explosion in boiler room’ at Felixstowe docks

Felixstowe dock. Image: Matthew Clarke

One person, thought to be a crewman of a ship has died after steam built up in the boiler room of a vessel that was docking at Felixstowe port overnight, causing an “explosion”.

Police were called to the docks at 11.45pm to reports one person had sustained fatal injuries during the incident.

The force confirmed this morning that one person has died and another is in hospital receiving treatment for their injuries.

Residents in the area said they heard a “massive explosion” in the ship while passing the docks.

One wrote on social media: “Driving past a ship earlier and hear this massive explosion. Like thunder going off inside.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious and there will be a joint investigation carried out by the police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Stay with us for updates on this breaking story as we receive them from the emergency services.

Update: Apparently the explosion occurred just after the vessel was 'all fast', thus the main engine was not in operation at that moment. Further reports say incident occurred in 'boiler room'. If this is the case, it may indicate that the auxiliary boiler was being flashed up (i.e. started - always regarded as the most 'dangerous' time for potential problems in boiler ops) for power in port. At sea, when the main engine is running, these ships use a waste heat recovery boiler utilising heat from the main engine exhaust.

One dead and another seriously injured in hospital after ‘explosion in boiler room’ at Felixstowe docks

A person has died and another is seriously injured after an 'explosion in a boiler room' of a ship

A crewman has died after steam built up in the boiler room of the Manhattan Bridge container ship as it was docking at Felixstowe port last night – causing an “explosion”.

The Manhattan Bridge ship at the Port of Felixstowe

Police and ambulance crews were called to the Trinity terminal at 11.45pm to reports one person had died during the incident.

The force have said that another crew member, thought to be a man, is seriously injured in hospital with severe burns.

It is understood that the explosion happened in the engine room of the vessel.

A person has died and another is seriously injured in hospital after an 'explosion in a boiler room' on the Manhattan Bridge ship at the Port of Felixstowe.

Residents in the area said they heard a “massive explosion” in the ship while passing the docks.

One wrote on social media: “Driving past a ship earlier and hear this massive explosion. Like thunder going off inside.”

Mark Mitchell said he heard the explosion from as far away as Rushmere St Andrew, while Dave Franklin said he heard and felt it on the Shotley Peninsula just after 11pm.

A person has been killed in an explosion in the boiler of the Manhattan Ship at The Port of Felixstowe.

Mr Mitchell, who lives close to the Westerfield sports ground in Holly Lane, said: “I was standing at my front door having last smoke before going to bed then I heard the explosion clearly in the distance, my wife who was in bed also heard it through the double glazing.”

Felixstowe deputy mayor Nick Barber said he was “shocked” by the news.

“I am saddened by this, it is a real shock,” he said.

“I am sure most of the town will feel the same, just so sad for those involved.

“These types of things very rarely happen in the town and as long as I can remember I have never recalled anything of this kind happening on a ship rather than the tragic incidents we occasionally get on the dock side.

“I used to work on the haulage side down at the docks and I have never heard of anything like this happening before.

He added: “It is very, very rare incident and on behalf of the town and the council I would like to send our condolences to the family of the victims involved.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious and there will be a joint investigation carried out by the police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Manhattan Bridge is a modern container ship and is currently sailing under the flag of Japan.

She was built in 2015 at 366 metres long and can carry up to 14,000 containers.

Operated by K-LINE, her next destination was due to be De Ham, the Port of Hamburg, and the estimated time of arrival was January 22 at 3am.

No more posts today as a mark of respect to the crewman that lost his life. Condolences to his family and work colleagues R.I.P

Tragically, one crewman died and one has been seriously injured, sustaining severe burns, aboard the Japanese flagged container vessel Manhattan Bridge (IMO 9689615) when vessel sustained a violent engine room explosion during berthing operations at the Port of Felixstowe's Trinity Terminal, about 2310 hrs on Thursday 19 January 2017.

Vessel is currently undergoing investigations to establish possible causes of the explosion, for what I suspect was a main engine crankcase explosion. To be confirmed.

This vessel has had, in the past, a full Philippino complement of crew, from top to bottom.

The vessel is cordoned off at the moment while investigators carry out their work.
Cargo operations are on hold until those investigations have been completed.